Sinker mechanism.



R. HSHER.

SINKER MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. 1916.

1,%1,933. Patented 001. 15, 1918.

WITNESSES: YINVENTOR:

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RAYMOND FISHER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SINKER MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

Application filed October 23, 1916. Serial No. 127,213.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND FISHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sinker Mechanism, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention may be employed with particular advantage in an automatic knitting machine adapted for using fine yarns, and particularly artificial silk threads. All such yarns must be knotted at intervals, and each knot is apt to cause a defect in the fabric b catching in a sinker and breaking the three. Of course, the more frangible the yarn, the more frequently it must be knotted and, con sequently, a knot required to connect the end of one bobbin thread with another may occasion a succession of breaks in the fabric such that an entire stocking length is wasted. Therefore, it is the object of my invention to so construct and arrange'sinker mechanism that it is capable of performing its ordinary function of casting the loops from the needles by positive movement of each sinker at the proper time, but nevertheless capable of permitting any sinker to yield, radially outwardly, at the proper instant to permit the passage of a knot through the throat of the sinker, without breaking the thread in which the lmot is formed, no matter how fine and frangible such thread may be. As hereinafter described, such operation is effected by including in the sinker mechanism, cams to actuate the sinkers, which are of substantially the same shape as the cams which are ordinarily rigidly mounted in the sinker ring for that purpose, but pivotally securing such cams at one end, leaving the other end capable of movement radially with respect to the circle of needles; limiting the inward movement of said cams by stop devices which are adjustable to precisely predetermine the extent to which each sinker may be moved inwardly by each cam; and providing a spring which normally holds each cam against the stop devices so that, during ordinary operation of the knitting machine, in which my invention is embodied, the sinkers act in the usual manner, as if the cams were rigidly mounted in the sinker ring. However, the construction and arrangement is such that each cam may yield, outwardly, so that a sinker which is encountered by a kIlOY) will cause the cam to thus yield to permit the of a sinker ring, such as is ordinarily employed in what is known as a Banner automatic knitting machine, but modified to embody my invention.

Fig. II is an elevation of the edge of said ring at the lower portion of Fig. I

Fig. III is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the edge of said ring at the left of Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary sectional viewv of said ring, taken on the line IV IV in Fig. I, and including an ordinary needle in the position in which the sinker mechanism casts a loop therefrom.

Fig. V is a fragmentary sectional view of said ring, taken on the line V V in Fig. I.

Fig. VI is a perspective view of one of the sinker cams indicated in dotted lines in Fig. I.

In said figures; the sinker ring 1 is provided with the usual bracket 2 having the opposite abutment screws 3 in threaded en gagement therewith and provided with the jam nuts 5 whereby the ring is held in proper relation with a knitting machine. Said ring has the ordinary, double pointed, stationary cam 7 whereby a circular series of sinkers 8 are thrust radially outward (by engagement with their butts 9,) with respect to a circular series of needles 10, at the proper time, and also has the ordinary stationary flange 11 limiting the outward movement of said sinkers 8, except at the region of said ring occupied by the cams. Said ring is also provided with two single pointed cams 13 respectively opposed to the points of said stationary cam 7, and of the same shape as the cams which are ordinarily rigidly secured in such a ring to thrust said sinkers inwardly by engagement with their butts 9 aforesaid. However,said cams 18 are respectively pivotally secured in said ring 1 by screws 14 which, as shown in Fig. V have smoothly cylindrical shanks extending in said ring but are rigidly secured in the respective cams by their threads. Said cams 13 are fitted to oscillate, upon their 13" 11, in the slot which extei circun entially in said ring 1, as shcmn in Fig." 1V and V, and the movement of said can limited by screws 18 which are respectively rigidly secured the *ein by their threads, as indicated in Fig. il Said screws 18 extend through respective holes 19 in said ring- 1, which are lur er than the shanlzs or said screws, as indicated in 1?, so as to permit oscillation of said cams 13; and the s1 gle spiral spring 21 extends in said slo' in resilient engagement with each of cams 13, tending to thrust them inwardly; said spring being stretched between terminal hooks 22 and 23 which are adjustahly secured to said ring 1 by the respecti e screws 25 and .26. icated in Fig. ill e screw 26 by aloop 27 which longitudinal justment or said hool; with respect to said spring 21 to rarv the tension of the latter and, consecpren "o vary its pressure u on said cams 13. no eutent of inward lo ment of saic cums, under pressure of a spring 21, is cis ly predetermined by the adjustable stop including the respective plates 28 w he clamped in adjusted position 0 spectively extend mentwith said 1 n As ind through t iei into engagei 1. ll hen said screws thereon to overhang saic, holes 19, more or less, as indicated in i' 1V, and then he rigidly secures in such adjusted position, by tightening saio screws 29, Said plates may he thus variably set, so to encounter the screw 18 and thus stop the inwaru move ment or" said earns 13, at any desired point within the range of movement said screws 18 in said holes 19.

It is to be understood that said cams 13 remain stationary, under pressure of sa d spring 21, holding their screws .18 aganst said plates 28, during the normal operatmn of the sinker mechanism, with thread from knots; so as to cast the loops of the thread 31 from the needles 10, in the ordi nary way. However, when a knot 32 in said thread. is presented at the throat or any sinker 8, such sinker, of course, then encounter more resistance than is afi orded by the passage of the smooth thread, and is pressed outwardly so as to permit the sage of said knot by the yielding move-m of the cam 13 by which said sinker is being actuated. it is to he noted that the construction and arrangement or said spring 2-1 is such that very delicate adjustment of the pressure maintaining said cams 13 in the normal position, predetermined by the adjustment 01"" said plates 28, may be effected by stretching said spring; more or by adjustment of said hook It is to be understood that I do not desire from the essential features or my invention fined 111 the appended claims.

sinker mechanism, the combination 'nlier ring, having a circumferential plane at right angles to the axis double pointed cam rigidly rid ring, arranged to thrust the dly; two single pointed cams T to in said slot, with their ly opposite the points of cam; pivot screws mounted to turn 1 ring and respectively rigidly secured in said oscillatory cams; a spiral tension A extending in said slot, in operative relation with both of said oscillatory cams; means connecting said spring with said rin j, including terminal hoolrs connected with the re. P8 tively opposite ends of said spring,

r holding said hooks on said ring;

S d HOOKS having; a loop permittir 1,

vudinally adjusted with reews, when the latter are e stop screws respectively rig;

111 said oscillatory cams and arranged to encounter said stop plates.

ln sinker mechanism, the combination with sinker ring, having a circumferential 1 in a plane at right angles to the axis c ring; of a cam mounted in said ring, n *ed to thrust the sinkers outwardly; two cams mounted to oscillate in said slot,

arranged to thrust the sinkers inwardly; pivot. 11- said ring for said oscillatory cams; nrat l tension spring, extending in said slot, in operative relation with both of said osci latory cams; and means arranged to adjustably predetermine the extent of the inward movement of said oscillatory cams, with respect to said ring, including clamping screws engaging said ring, stop plates respectively arranged to turn on said clamping screws, when the latter are loosened, and

stop screws carried by said oscillatory cams aiil ari urged to encounter said stop plates.

In sinker mechanism, the combination with a sinker ring, having a circumferential slot in a plane atright angles to the axis of said ring; or" a cam mounted in said ring, arranged to thrust the sinkers outwardly;

cam mounted to oscillate in said slot, arranged to thrustthe sinlrers inwardly; a pivot screw mounted to turn in said ring and rigidly secured in said oscillatory cam; a spiral tension spring, extending in said slot, in operative relation with said oscillatory cam; means connecting said spring with said ring, including a terminal hook connected with one end of said spring and adjustably secured to said ring; means arranged to adjustably predetermine the extent of the inward movement of said oscillatory cams, with respect to said ring, including clamping screws engaging said ring, stop plates respectively secured by said clamping screws, and stop screws carried by said oscillatory cams and arranged to encounter said stop plates.

4. In sinker mechanism, the combination with a sinker ring, having a circumferential slot in a plane at right angles to the axis of said ring; of a cam arranged to thrust the sinkers outwardly; two cams mounted to oscillate in said slot, arranged to thrust the sinkers inwardly; pivots in said ring for said oscillatory cams; a single spring, extending in said slot, in operative relation with both of said oscillatory cams; means connecting said spring with said ring, at its opposite ends permitting adjustment of its resilient effect upon said cams; and means arranged to adjustably predetermine the extent of the inward movement of said oscillatory cams, with respect to said ring, including stop plates on said ring, and stop screws carried by said oscillatory cams and arranged to encounter said stop plates.

5. In sinker mechanism, the combination with a sinker support; of a plurality of cams mounted to oscillate with respect to said support, and arranged to independently thrust the sinkers toward the needles; a single spring, common to all of said cams, arranged to present all of them in position to effect normal operation of said sinkers with respect to the needles, but capable of permitting said cams to independently yield, away from the needles, to permit knitting knotted thread without breaking it; and, means for adjusting said spring; whereby its resilient effect upon all of said cams may be determined by a single adjustment.

6. In sinker mechanism, the combination with a sinker support; of a plurality of cams mounted to oscillate with respect to said support, and arranged to independently thrust the sinkers toward the needles; a single spring, common to all of said cams, arranged to present all of them in position to efi'ect normal operation of said sinkers with respect to the needles, but capable of permitting said cams to independently yield, away from the needles, to permit knitting knotted thread without breaking it; whereby each of said cams is rendered independently operative in relation to said single spring.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, this tenth day of October, 1916.

RAYMOND FISHER.

"Witnesses:

Bonner P. FISHER, FRANK REUTHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

- Washington, D. G. 

